Racks & benches.

Racks and benches are where most serious training in a gym actually happens. Squats, bench presses, overhead presses, rows and most dumbbell work all start here, and a well-planned free-weight area stays busy long after members have tried every machine on the floor. It is also the zone where build quality matters most, because a rack takes loaded barbells dropping into its J-cups many times a day.

Choosing a rack comes down to space and supervision. A half rack keeps the lifter in front of the uprights, feels open and fits tighter rooms. A power rack puts members inside four uprights, the safer choice for heavy squats and presses without a spotter. A double half rack puts two stations on one frame, and on a busy commercial floor it gets more use per square metre than two separate racks. Arsenal Strength's Alpha series offers all three in 11-gauge and heavier 7-gauge steel, alongside a combo rack, a monolift and a Smith machine.

Benches and storage finish the zone. Most gyms need several adjustable and flat benches for dumbbell work, plus Olympic flat, incline, decline and military benches if barbell pressing is popular. Specialist pieces such as a glute ham developer, back extension and knee raise station fill the gaps, while dumbbell racks, a barbell rack and a weight tree keep bells and plates off the floor. New Era carries over 30 racks, benches and storage pieces, and can help you plan the layout for your space.